A PRIEST who quit his parish after becoming "close" to a mum was last night described as a "charmer".

Father John Irons, 47, is said to have become friendly with Alice Graham as he gave her marriage advice during her break-up from police officer husband Bob.
Fr Irons - a former Radio Clyde DJ - stunned his flock by mysteriously quitting St Cuthbert's in Hamilton on Sunday.
But we can reveal the reason behind his departure is his relationship with now-divorced mother-of-two Mrs Graham.
It's said Fr Irons "comforted" Mrs Graham, 48, while he was a priest in Blackwood, Lanarkshire, where she previously lived with her family.

It's thought he was giving marriage counselling to Mrs Graham and her husband Bob, also 48. Fr Irons' friendship with Mrs Graham sparked talk among parishioners, who reported seeing the priest coming and going from her home.
A source said last night: "Fr Irons is a charmer and no mistake.
"He's always been a social animal, and it's no surprise that these rumours have led to him stepping down.
"Unfairly, everyone in the St Cuthbert's parish seems to blame Alice Graham for leading him astray.
"That's way wide of the mark, though."
The priest - who rubbed shoulders with stars like Sugababe Jade Ewen while he was a DJ - claims he has stepped down because he wasn't giving his parish his "full commitment".
Yesterday the Catholic Church said Fr Irons was removed from the Lanarkshire parish at his own request. It's now thought the priest has started a new job as a car salesman.
A church spokesman said: "Following discussion with Bishop Joseph Devine, Father Irons has decided to step down from parish ministry while he considers his future."

Marriage split ... Supt Graham

Fr Irons has been a priest for 23 years, also serving at St Joseph's, Blantyre, St Mary's, in Larkhall and Our lady in St John's, Blackwood. The source told how he left Blackwood after his friendship with then-married Mrs Graham became common knowledge.
They added: "Alice Graham and her husband Bob are said to have gone to Fr John because their marriage was on the rocks.
"Obviously in that situation people talk about their feelings and it can be quite difficult.
"It would have been a raw and emotional time for everyone - Fr Irons included.
"Sometime during that counselling period it seems that some kind of relationship has started between the priest and Alice Graham.
"Obviously in a small town like Blackwood the rumour mill was soon in overdrive.
"It was as if folk in Blackwood were asking too many questions about what was going on between the two of them.
"Eventually the decision was made that he should move a few miles away."
Mrs Graham moved to Hamilton three years ago.

Church ... St Cuthbert's

The source added: "The fact she now lives in Hamilton too has fuelled the fires, really." The Grahams' divorce was finalised just last month.
The couple had been married for 24 years and have two children, Cara, 22, and 20-year-old Ryan.
Mrs Graham's ex Bob, a Strathclyde Police superintendent, said yesterday he had "nothing to say" about his former wife's relationship with the priest.
Mr Graham, who now lives in Glasgow, said only: "This doesn't affect me. We've separated - divorced, actually. I'm the victim here, and I have dignity. I've got nothing to say about this.
"I've got more self-respect than that, and I don't need to make comment. We're divorced. I have my own life now.
"She's got her life, and that's the bottom line."

Star chats ... priest & Benny Gallagher

Mr Graham also refused to comment on whether Fr Irons contributed to the break-up of his marriage. Fr Irons is said to have "stunned his congregation" by quitting the St Cuthbert's post on Sunday.
He broke the shock news to parishioners during Mass at his church.
He told baffled friends that he was not giving the parish his "full commitment" and had decided to step down.
It is unclear if he has left the priesthood, which involves a lengthy legal process and takes some years to complete.
The churchman is best known as the presenter of a Radio Clyde music show, and for raising money for charity through his roadshow.
He succeeded Father John Taylor as priest of St Cuthbert's last year.

Following his announcement on Sunday, one parishioner said: "He told everyone at the early Mass on Sunday and again at the later Mass that night.
"Everyone is devastated and upset by his departure.
"But no one really knows why he has gone. It is a bit of a mystery.
"We are supposed to be getting a new priest on Friday but we will have to wait and see."
Another parishioner added: "When he came to St Cuthbert's he was a breath of fresh air. People loved his sermons.
"He was a good preacher, very approachable and it's a shame he has left. People are very shocked."
Mrs Graham and Fr Irons were unavailable for comment last night.

About Me

Followers

The Jade Ewen Story so far...

Jade Almarie Louise Ewen (born 24 January 1988) is an English singer, songwriter, actress and member of the Sugababes. Ewen began her singing career in the girl group Trinity Stone signed to Sony BMG in 2005, but they disbanded in 2007 with no album released. In 2009, she represented the UK at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest performing the Andrew Lloyd Webber / Diane Warren penned "It's My Time" after winning the UK national selection. She achieved 5th place, cementing her as the most successful British Eurovision act since 2002. She replaced Keisha Buchanan in the Sugababes in September 2009, while at the time still signed to Polydor Records.

Ewen was born and brought up in Plaistow, London, to a Jamaican mother, Carol and a Scottish-Sicilian father, Trevor. Trevor is blind and partially deaf, while Carol is partially blind. Ewen was a carer to both her parents and two younger siblings, Shereen and Kiel.She received a scholarship to the Sylvia Young Theatre School. As a student at Sylvia, she appeared in The Bill, Casualty and Mr. Harvey Lights a Candle.Ewen also won the part of Nala in The Lion King at the West End at the age of twelve. Ewen appeared in the children's dance DVD, entitled How To Dance. She also featured briefly in the video for pop rock band Busted's "What I Go to School For".

Between 2003 and 2004 she appeared in the Australian series Out There. In 2005, Ewen became a member of the girl group Trinity Stone which was signed to Sony BMG. The group disbanded in 2007. She later recorded with rapper Kwamé, who was impressed with her work on MySpace. She released a digital single, "Got You" in 2008 under Kwame's Make Noise label. Ewen co-wrote the song "A Little Bit" for the girl group Booty Luv and also "Let Me Be Me" for Jessica Mauboy. In early 2009, Ewen acted in the first episode of the series, Myths.

In January 2009, Ewen was approached and participated in the UK national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. She was eventually selected to represent the UK with the song "It's My Time" composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber who accompanied her on piano onstage. Ewen was signed with Polydor Records in February and began working on her debut album. In May Ewen finished in fifth place, the highest placing for the United Kingdom since 2002.

In September 2009, it was announced that Ewen had joined the Sugababes as the replacement for Keisha Buchanan.While her second single, "My Man" had been released in the same week, promotional activities for the single were cancelled. Although the single still managed to reach #35 in the charts. In an interview with the BBC, Ewen confirmed her commitment to the Sugababes as her main priority and that her solo album was put on hold. "About a Girl" later debuted at number eight in the UK. Sweet 7 was released in early 2010 after multiple delays from late 2009, and charted at #14 on the UK albums chart. In late 2010 Jade was revealed as the new face of Miss Ultimo lingerie, modelling the lingerie fashion lines Autumn/Winter collection for 2010.

A Brief History of The Sugababes

Sugababes are an English pop girl group based in London, consisting of members Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen. The Guinness Book of World Records have named the Sugababes as the most successful female act of the 21st century with six UK number one singles and eighteen UK top ten hits.

Sugababes were formed in 1998 by founding members Siobhán Donaghy, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan. In 2001, after just one album and some initial success, Donaghy departed and the introduction of Range in the same year was met with the commercial success. The group survived a second line-up change in December 2005, when Buena left the band and was subsequently replaced by Berrabah. In September 2009, it was confirmed that after eleven years in the band, Buchanan was no longer part of the group and had been replaced by Jade Ewen.